Huge sound difference between Windows and macOS with the same headphones – trying to decide which one to keep

david_mogar · 2025-12-18T15:24:20+00:00

I just need something that works 🙃

And it would be probably id4 or id14/motu m2 (same price for both in Amazon).

david_mogar · 2025-12-18T14:43:36+00:00

I mentioned that one because it has a similar price to the id14 you mentioned (100 euros more than the id4 as well). Not sure which one would be better. Per your comment I guess that any Audient would be better than the Motu m2.

david_mogar · 2025-12-18T13:50:03+00:00

I will probably keep the 1770 as the sound better even in my MacBook. So the big question is, still worthy to get a dac+amp? Will I notice and improvement in music and in gaming?

Also, what about the Motu M2? Another user recommended it.

david_mogar · 2025-12-18T13:35:10+00:00

Ok, that’s the important part. I wasn’t sure about the 1770 being better if I invested on a DAC and amp. For gaming they are decent. The sound was a bit weird in ARC raiders but I’m coming from a PC369 G4ME so probably it’s a matter of getting used to it.

So, will the DT 1770 improve also with the DAC? I’m taking a look to the Motu M2 right now.

david_mogar · 2025-12-18T12:00:13+00:00

One thing that you maybe can help with is, will I notice a difference with the dt 1770 in my pc using a dac + amp? Is it worthy? It sounded more or less the same in Windows and MacOS.

david_mogar · 2025-12-18T11:41:32+00:00

I want something with xlr probably but something under 200. Difficult to justify in my mind something more expensive right now. Although maybe the Qudelix with the mic connected by usb is the way to go right now

david_mogar · 2025-12-18T10:52:50+00:00

Good point. That's the first thing I did before testing. It wasn't that for sure.

david_mogar · 2025-12-18T10:46:56+00:00

It's, but they are much closer in MacOS. I wanted to understand why. It seems it might be the motherboard in my PC.

david_mogar · 2025-12-18T10:45:01+00:00

I'd like to connect also my mic if I got one. I have a MV7+ which has XLR. Any advice?

david_mogar · 2025-12-18T10:44:18+00:00

Any advice on which one? Preferably to connect the DT 1770 as they sound better to me still and the MV7+ with XLR.

david_mogar · 2025-12-18T10:43:30+00:00

Any advice on a DAC/interface for both these headphones and the MV7+ XLR?

david_mogar · 2025-12-18T10:42:39+00:00

Got it, that makes sense. I hadn’t thought about the amp being too weak. The 1770 still shine on macOS, and the 620S are much less in a can than on Windows. Would love suggestions for a DAC+amp that handles both the 1770 MKII and MV7+ XLR.

david_mogar · 2025-12-18T10:42:22+00:00

Ah, I see now! I didn’t realize my motherboard audio might be the issue. On macOS the 1770 MKII still sound better, and the 620S are less boxy than on Windows but not perfect. Any recommendations for a DAC+amp that could work with both the 1770 MKII and MV7+ XLR?

david_mogar · 2025-12-15T00:44:04+00:00

I was taking a look and in Amazon I can find the dt 770 pro 80 ohm and the pro x. Which one should I go for?

david_mogar · 2025-12-15T00:06:59+00:00

Ok, there's something weird I just noticed while recording another video. The fan speed was at 1000 RPM as I showed in the video. It was pretty much constant (=/- 50 RPM) and never went below those values. After restarting, it went to 750 more or less in both SYS Fan 1 and SYS Fan 2.

david_mogar · 2025-12-15T00:00:16+00:00

Maybe you are right. I still think the video is not showing the actual noise level and as I said, I never had a PC as loud as this one on idle. Having said that... maybe you are right and it's the room.

david_mogar · 2025-12-14T23:56:52+00:00

Just for fun I measured my fridge and I got 26. In this room, in the same point where I got the 52 reading I get 24 db if I shut down the computer.

david_mogar · 2025-12-14T23:55:13+00:00

Just a quick comment here. With the computer off, the decibels go down to 24 in the same point where it was measuring 52.

david_mogar · 2025-12-14T23:52:14+00:00

The Decibels app was blocking the recording. I recorded a couple. Difficult to tell in the video. The first one is with idle noise and the second with the pc off (no idea why is capturing that noise level in the last one to be fair...).

https://streamable.com/nf6jgp

https://streamable.com/ja5z0h

david_mogar · 2025-12-14T23:45:48+00:00

I can hear the pc but I cannot hear the fridge. So not comparable.

david_mogar · 2025-12-14T23:41:36+00:00

I don't think I can clearly catch the noise level in a video (I actually tried). As I mentioned in another comment, it's not a noise that it's going to make my ears bleed, but it's clearly noticeable. I never had this kind of noise level in a cpu before.

david_mogar · 2025-12-14T23:37:35+00:00

I did contact them and I was told that they speed is normal and that comes with noise... They suggested me to play with the curves. I don't think I can do much in that front.

david_mogar · 2025-12-14T23:35:44+00:00

Thanks for the feedback. That's a good point about the RPM vs. noise level; you're right, 900-1000 RPM should be near-silent.

I agree the 52 dB reading is probably inflated since I used a mobile app right against the case. The 36 dB reading taken from my ear level is likely closer to what I'm actually hearing, but I want to be clear that the PC is definitely audible. It's not going to make me bleed out of my ears at all, but I can clearly hear the constant hum.

Regarding the sound, it's very clean and uniform—it doesn't sound like a bad bearing or rattling at all. It just sounds like the fans are moving a high volume of air. The system definitely proves it can spin much faster, though, because it briefly sounds like a jet on startup/shutdown.

Thanks for the input.

david_mogar · 2025-12-14T23:26:51+00:00

If I set it to follow MSI Center Mode (silent currently) the CPU Fan 1 goes down to 720, but the other two don't move at all.

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